User:Laurenkdavisitis/sandbox

Brad Feinknopf (born, Mark Bradley Feinknopf, December 6, 1963, Columbus, Ohio) is an internationally recognized architectural photographer based in Columbus, Ohio. His images have been published worldwide in over 50 publications and over his career has done a wide variety of work for many of the world's well-known architects and designers. Brad was recently selected by Archdaily.com as one of the Top 13 Architectural Photographers to Follow

The Beginning
Growing up in a family with it's roots in architecture, Brad's father and grandfather both were architects in Columbus, Ohio, and Brad himself was at first on the path to becoming an architect. Graduating in 1986 from Cornell University with an undergraduate degree in Design & Environmental Analysis/Facility Planning and Management; Brad was on the path to go to graduate school for architecture. During his junior year; however, Brad was convinced to take a photography course by his friends and from there on out his path changed. His first teacher, and mentor to this day, Barry Perlus helped guide Brad towards architectural photography.

New York City (1986-1988)
After graduating from Cornell University, Brad moved to NYC to study under the tutelage of Richard Avedon, Robert Mapplethorpe, Arnold Newman, Horst, Joyce Tennyeson, Arthur Elgort and Bruce Davidson. The lessons he learned during his two years in NYC, carry over to his clients today: the consistent pursuit of perfection, extreme attention to detail, uncompromisable professionalism and the utmost quality in service

Columbus(1988-present)
Wanting to be closer to his family, Brad moved back to Columbus in 1988. Upon his return, he began working as an assistant and associate photographer for Jeff Rycus. In 1991, Brad took a small break in producing photography until 1993, when he then created a partnership with Scott Cunningham. This partnership lasted until 1998, at which time Brad decided to start his own company, Feinknopf LTD.

Today
Located at 104 N 3rd St, Columbus, Ohio, 43215, Feinknopf LTD focuses primarily on architectural photography along with commercial and executive portrait work. The Feinknopf studio was designed by Jonathan Barnes Architecture & Design and is located on the ground floor of the Connextions Lofts condominium building.

Workflow
Brad, whom shot 4x5 film up until 2006, now photographs with a Phase One IQ160 medium format digital back with Rodenstock copal shutter lenses on a Cambo (see Cambo camera) Wide DS camera body. Brad also utilizes the Canon EOS Camera systems to photograph in 35mm full-frame as well depending on the project he is photographing.

In a 2002 interview with Archdaily, Brad responded to the following question: "How do you work?" as follows.

''"...After 20+ years, there is so much that I do that I don't even think about [it], it has become second nature. I guess the process is something like this: I like to walk the project with the architect and experience it through their eyes. I then want time, time to understand and to appreciate what I am working with. I do light my project, but sparingly. I do not wish to create something anew but merely to show the work in its best possible light. I see a great deal of photography this is heavily lit, and it is very sexy and serves a specific purpose, but it always seems to be more about the lighting than the building. I want the architecture to shite through, not my phoography to be the start of the show.

''...I prefer to have a minimum of 4 days at a project, if possible. That seems the minimum amount of time to experience a building, and over that time, you should have many opportunities to see the project under different weather conditions, at various time[s] of day, etc."''

Brad's studio currently consists of himself, his photo assistant/digital technician, an out-of-studio digital retoucher with whom he has been working over ten years with, and an artist representative based in Chicago, Illinois